Youth Gang Targeting Schoolchildren in Biggleswade: Phones and Belongings Stolen in Spate of Attacks

Residents of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, are raising serious concerns after a series of violent incidents involving a group of young boys who have been targeting schoolchildren, stealing their phones, money, and personal belongings while physically attacking them on the streets.

The alarm was first raised publicly by local mother Kirsty Brady, who took to the community Facebook group “We Love Biggleswade” to warn other parents after her son was robbed on his way home from school.

According to Brady, her son had his phone stolen by a group of boys aged 15 and under.

She confirmed that while her son was fortunate to escape without physical injury, the incident was frightening enough for her to urge parents to speak to their children about staying safe.

Her post drew an immediate wave of concern from the local community, with many parents expressing worry about the safety of their own children.

Kelly Woodley was among the first to respond, writing that the incident was terrible and asking whether Brady’s son was okay.

Rachel Lock, who described herself as the mother of a vulnerable child, asked for details about the exact area so she could take extra precautions on the days her son walks home alone.

Families Come Forward as Incidents Point to Same Group

Her post quickly drew responses from other families who had experienced similar incidents.

Another Biggleswade mother, Emilia Glowacka, revealed that her 16-year-old son and his friends were beaten up the day before and had everything taken from them, including money, phones, and cross-body bags.

She said the attack appeared to involve the same group and happened in a similar area.

Glowacka added that when police were informed, they told parents that nothing could be done, suggesting the offenders were likely travelers.

Her account sparked frustration among residents, with Linda Clark responding directly, asking why nothing could be done and whether these young offenders were above the law.

Mary Elizabeth also weighed in, saying the behaviour was disgusting and that the police should be doing their job since stealing is a crime.

Another parent, Michelle Woods, shared that her son, who is in Year 6, had a frightening encounter with a group of boys just weeks earlier.

During that incident, one of the boys reportedly threatened to pull a knife on him.

She said she reported it to both the police and the school, but received no meaningful response from either.

This prompted a strong reaction from another commenter who urged Woods to formally report the school to the police for failing to carry out risk assessments and for not safeguarding her son as they are legally required to do.

One commenter who identified themselves as KnowledgeableGoose7805 revealed that their son’s friend was beaten up over the weekend and ended up in the hospital with a concussion. “It’s getting bad out there,” they wrote, adding that police were involved in that particular case.

Another parent, GiftedRaspberry4302, said the same thing happened to their son and a friend at Christmas, with money also stolen during the attack.

They noted that one of the boys in the group carries a slingshot and urged everyone to keep reporting incidents to the police.

Michelle Boyd also pointed out that a similar post had surfaced from the nearby town of Sandy, where a group of boys had reportedly been going around assaulting people.

She suggested that victims from both areas consider linking their reports together to strengthen the case against the group.

Community Frustration Grows Over Lack of Consequences

A recurring theme in the comments was the lack of consequences for young offenders. Phil Durham noted that the punishments currently being handed out are simply not enough to prevent the kind of behaviour being seen.

Fe Ave backed this up, saying that children openly talk about juvenile detention without any fear, with kids saying it is “only juvi” and that records get wiped when they turn 18. “Absolutely no cares,” she added.

Long-term residents also used the post to reflect on how much the town has changed.

Val Noble, who has lived in Biggleswade for over 51 years, said that when she was raising her four children, the town felt completely safe and nothing like it does today. “My children were safe playing out,” she wrote.

Glenn Crowson, who said he moved away from Biggleswade to the nearby town of Potton five years ago, expressed sadness over the changes in the area, saying it was a nice town between ten and seventeen years ago.

Community members are now urging every victim to report incidents to the police, no matter how minor they may seem, arguing that each logged report builds a case that could eventually force authorities to act.

Parents are also being advised to know the routes their children take home from school and to check in with them regularly until the situation is resolved.